3 syllables: Trap, e, zoid. Stress on Trap.
TRAP-uh-zoyd
/ˈtɹæpəˌzɔɪd/
Trapezoid is pronounced TRAP-uh-zoyd (/ˈtɹæpəˌzɔɪd/). It has three syllables (Trap-e-zoid), with the stress on "Trap". Trapezoid is a four-sided polygon with at least one pair of parallel sides, typically with the bases longer than the legs. In geometry contexts it is commonly used to describe shapes and, less formally, to describe objects with a trapezoidal cross-section. The term originates from Greek roots and is standard in math vocabulary across education levels.
nounTrapezoid is a four-sided polygon with at least one pair of parallel sides, typically with the bases longer than the legs. In geometry contexts it is commonly used to describe shapes and, less formally, to describe objects with a trapezoidal cross-section. The term originates from Greek roots and is standard in math vocabulary across education levels.
"The trapezoid shown has parallel bases and non-parallel sides."
"In math class, we learned how to calculate the area of a trapezoid."
"The artist cut the metal sheet into a trapezoid to fit the frame."
Pronounced /ˈtræp.əˌzɔɪd/ (US) or /ˈtræp.əˌzɔɪd/ (UK). Start with TRA as in 'trap', then PU as a schwa, then ZOID rhymes with 'void' but starts with z. Put primary stress on the first syllable and secondary stress on the third: TRAP-uh-ZOID. IPA guidance helps: /ˈtræp.əˌzɔɪd/. Audio references: you can listen to the pronunciation on Pronounce, Forvo, and major dictionary sites.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the middle syllable into a quick /ə/ and losing the /ə/ before z; 2) Ending with a mispronounced /ɔɪd/ as /ɔːd/ or /oʊd/. Correction: clearly articulate /ə/ in the second syllable and release /zɔɪd/ with a crisp /z/ and a proper /ɔɪ/ diphthong. Practice by isolating /ˈtræp.ə/ then attaching /ˈzɔɪd/. Use slow drills with a hinge sound between the syllables.
In US English, the /æ/ in TRA is bright and the /ɔɪ/ in zOID is a tight diphthong; rhoticity doesn’t change the word itself but linked vowels can differ slightly. UK/Non-rhotic tendencies won’t alter the word’s core but the /ɔɪ/ may be realized with slightly less tongue height. Australian English keeps similar vowels but may have a bit more centralized /ə/ in unstressed positions. Overall: /ˈtræp.əˌzɔɪd/ with minor vowel quality shifts.
The difficulty lies in the /ˌzɔɪ/ cluster, where the z must combine with the /ɔɪ/ diphthong without creating a lisp or misplacing the tongue. Some speakers shorten the final /d/ or insert a vowel between /z/ and /ɔɪ/. Focus on maintaining a crisp /z/ release and a clean /ɔɪ/ glide. The three-syllable rhythm also requires consistent stress mapping: TRAP-uh-ZOID.
A practical, word-specific query answered: Does 'trapezoid' ever reduce the middle syllable? In careful speech, no—keep the /ə/ in the second syllable but reduce it slightly in fast speech. The /ˈtræp.əˌzɔɪd/ pattern remains stable in most registers; ensure the /z/ is clearly released before the /ɔɪ/ to avoid merging into /ɔɪd/.
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Trapezoid comes from the Greek trapeza, meaning “table,” and eidos, meaning “form” or “shape.” The word entered English through mathematical usage in the 17th–18th centuries as European mathematicians translated Greek geometry texts. Early descriptive geometry terms borrowed from Greek broadly used roots describing shape and structure; trapezoid distinguished shapes with at least one pair of parallel sides, versus trapezium, which has a single non-parallel pair depending on regional naming conventions. The term’s first known uses appear in treatises detailing polygons and cross-sections, reflecting a broader biblical and classical revival of Greek mathematical vocabulary. Over time, trapezoid became a standard term in elementary and advanced geometry, retained in curricula worldwide, with regional preferences for trapezium in some Commonwealth schools. Today, both trapezoid and trapezium are recognized, with usage often governed by national education standards and publishing conventions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Trapezoid" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Trapezoid"
-oid sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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